Interview of Ann R Haokip UPSC Rank 620

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She is just 22 years to crack the hard nut UPSC Civil Service Examination 2011-12 in her first attempt. Graduate in Psychology from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi, she excels not only in her studies but also in playing her favourite acoustic guitar. In a heart-to-heart talk Ann Rammawii Haokip daughter of Pu Rev. Pothang Haokip (Pastor of KWS, Hyderabad) and Pi Ruby Haokip make public the secret of her success.

Question: Heartiest congratulation to you Miss Ann. How old are you at the time UPSC final result was declared?Ann Rammawii Haokip: I was 22 years old.

Q: To whom you credit your success?ARH: I thank my family for their ceaseless support, friends and well-wishers for their emotional support, the Almighty for blessing me with good health and hard work from my side.

Q: Are you satisfied with rank 620?ARH: I plan to give another attempt to get a higher rank.

Q: When did you first start preparing for Civil Service Examination?ARH: I began my preparation in June 2010. However, my entire life experience has been a continuous process of learning.

Q: According to you when is the right time to start preparation?ARH: Plan your preparation at least a year before the exam

Q: What are your two optional subjects?ARH: Public Administration and Psychology

Q: You crack the hard nut. What motivate you most?ARH: I am internally-driven so I am constantly trying to better myself.

Q: Do you commit any mistake in your preparation?ARH: I made the mistake of joining a coaching institute without conducting detailed research into the quality of teaching provided there.

Q: How many hours do you think, is needed for the preparation?ARH: It is not simply the number of hours that matter but also the quality of effort put in. One needs to manage one’s time, energy and resources well.

Q: How do you find the interview members?ARH: They were very cordial and appeared very interested in hearing what I had to say.

Q: What dress do you wear for the interview?ARH: I chose to wear a kurta-churidar suit as I felt comfortable in it, and for its pan-Indian representation.

Q: Is luck something to do with UPSC exam?ARH: Chance does play a role in this exam as one never knows for certain whether questions will be asked based on what one has studied.

Q: How do you foresee your future as an administrator?ARH: I believe I have the aptitude to learn and the potential to become an able administrator. I hope to carry out my duty to the best of my ability.

Q: In what way can you help Kuki society as administrator?ARH: An administrator plays an important in the development of society. This role is not confined towards benefitting one particular ethnic community but all the inhabitants of an administrative unit without any bias. It needs to be seen that basic services are delivered to all persons to ensure that the society develops as a whole.

Q: One day a poor Kuki man came to you asking monetary assistance, what is your response?ARH: I would see to it that he is rehabilitated under a relevant government scheme. In due to course of time, he would acquire a particular skill or set of skills that would help him earn a living with his dignity intact.

Q: Many people from Manipur in particular and North East India in general are victim of conflict and poverty forcing them to work in Indian cities who to add salt to wound are again facing racial discrimination. What do you say?ARH: Racism is a product of inter-group conflict, which in turn arises due to several factors like ethnocentrism, feelings of insecurity and lack of communication. To reduce this conflict, we need to integrate the members of various communities towards adopting a larger common identity. We have to encourage healthy competition by providing a platform to facilitate interaction among these groups, such as sports and cultural events. This would give the constructive elements of society more visibility and thereby enable people to form more positive attitudes about the other group.

Q: Members of modern State Level Kut Committee are an elite civil service groups, if you become a Chairperson how would you organised or do you see the need for any changes?ARH: I’m sorry, but I’m not well-informed on this matter to comment on it.

Q: Do you believe in the so called ‘Beauty Contest’ anyway?ARH: I wish to refrain from commenting on this matter.

Q: Social network like facebook has become so popular among young people that you always want to log in but at the same time you know you must study as well, it seems ‘choice making’ here is creating a kind of what may be called in psychology ‘Approach-Approach’ or ‘Approach Avoidance’ conflict. What is you assessment?ARH: One needs to learn self-control. If you feel that you are being controlled by external events (for instance, the obsessive compulsive behaviour to keep checking one’s account) then work out a plan that involves an external moderator (say, a parent or a friend) to keep a check on you. At the end of the day, the choices you make are a reflection of your priorities.

Q: Your extracurricular activities?ARH: I’m passionate about music.

Q: Hobbies/interest?ARH: I enjoy playing the acoustic guitar, playing basketball and cycling.

Q: Your final words to readers?ARH: Put in every effort you can to achieve your dream.

Q: Thank you Miss Ann for your valuable time.

Note: Interview on 6.2.2012 by George T. Haokip academician, social activist and USIP Scholar who so far has publishes numbers of papers in reputed national & international journals, magazines besides presenting papers in various seminars and conferences at the national and international level. Author and editor he has already produce five books on various contemporary issues of importance. He is the Associate Editor of Journal of Social Sciences and member, Indian Political Science Association.. Published in Kukiforum Yahoogroup and reproduced here in Zogam.com with the permission of George T Haokip